Apparatus for forming continuous lengths of hollow concrete monolithic structures

ABSTRACT

A self-propelled and self-aligning form disposed for the casting or forming of continuous length of hollow monolithic concrete structures such as drainage pipe, tunnels or open trenches.

United States Patent [451 Feb. 19, 1974 Cole [54] APPARATUS FOR FORMINGCONTINUOUS 1,075,877 10/1913 Turner 425/59 LENGTHS 0F HOLLOW CONCRETE1525987 2/1925 MONOLITHIC STRUCTURES 1,606,160 11/1926 Foster 425/59[76] Inventor: Leonard D. Cole, 41850 Acacia,

Hemet, Calif. 92343 Primary Examiner-Robert D. Baldwin Filed: Nov. 10,1972 Attorney, Agent, or Fzrm-Warren F. B. Lindsley [21] Appl. No.1305,569

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 425/59, 425/63 [5 A elflpropened andselflaligning form disposed for 1 Field of Search 264/33 the casting Orforming of continuous length of hollow monolithic concrete structuressuch as drainage pipe, [56] Refer n e Clted tunnels Or Open trenches.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR FORMINGCONTINUOUS LENGTIIS OF HOLLOW CONCRETE MONOLITI'IIC STRUCTURESBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a pipe forming ormolding machine and more particularly to a mold for forming continuouslengths of pipe either in tunnels or open trenches.

1. Field of the Invention This invention is particularly directed to aconcrete pipe forming machine disposed for the casting or forming inplace of continuous lengths of pipe or conduit such as storm drainseither in open trenches or in underground tunnels and which is selfaligning and propelling when used either in open trenches at groundlevel or in underground tunnels.

2. Description of the Piror Art I-Ieretofore the casting of continuoushollow monolithic concrete structures such as drainage pipe in opentrenches or in underground tunnels, otherwise known as on sightcastings, has been accomplished by manual means wherein forms are set-inplace by manual labor and plastic self setting material such as concreteis poured or forced around the form by manual means and left to setabout the form. Once the plastic material sets, the mold forms had to bestripped away manually and reassembled further on, where, the processwas repeated.

Using this method, hollow monolithic structure resulted, however, thecuring joint between two consecutive sections created a weak spotresulting in leakage or concrete failure.

Further, with prior ar molds and apparatus, the construction ofsubterranean tunnels, of dimensions substantially small enough toprevent human entry, were impossible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention claimed, a newand improved apparatus is provided for casting continuous hollowmonolithic concrete structures employing self alignment and propulsionfeatures.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedmold for casting continuous hollow monolithic concrete structures.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mold for castingcontinuous hollow monolithic structures either in open trenches atground level or in subterranean tunnels.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mold for thecontinuous casting of hollow monolithic structures which is selfaligning along the central axis of an open trench or subterraneantunnel.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a mold forthe continuous casting of hollow monolithic structures wherein the moldis self propelling.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a mode forthe continuous casting of hollow monomithic structures in subterraneantunnels wherein the dimensions of the tunnels are substantially smallenough to prohibit human entry.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of the novelty whichcharacterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity inthe claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention may be morereadily described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the mold and its associatedalignment and'propulsion means.

FIG. 2 is a side partial cross-sectional side view of the structureshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG.2.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIG.2.

FIG. 8 is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 8-8of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional view showing the moldand its associated casting shield in an open level trench.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional view showing the moldand its associated casting shield in a subterranean tunnel.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional view showing the moldand its associated alignment and propulsion means disposed in asubterranean tunnel wherein the mold is advanced by one facet of thepropulsion means.

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic partial cross-sectional view similar to FIG.11 wherein the propulsion stabilizing means has been relaxed orretracted and the propulsion and alignment means are being movedrelative to the mold.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to thedrawings by characters of reference, FIG. I discloses a continuouscasting mold 20 employing a thrust collar 22 having attached thereto apair of longitudinally extending mold guide ways 24 and 26. A moldingcollar 28 is disposed along the mold guide ways 24 and 26 and ismaintained in alignment along the guide ways by protrusions 30, whichinwardly extend from molding collar 28 into slots 32 formed in guideways 24 and 26 to extend longitudinally thereof.

Maintained at the opposite extremities of guide ways 24 and 26, fromthrust collar 22 is a self alignment means 34. This self alignment means34 comprises a frame 36 with hydraulically or pneumatically actuatedcylinders 38, evenly disposed about the frame 36, and which extendoutwardly from the longitudinal axis of mold 20.

A hydraulically or pneumatically actuated cylinder 40 is solidly affixedto the upper extremity of frame 36 of the self alignment means 34 and isprovided with a multiple telescoping shaft 42 affixed to a crescentshaped screed plate 44.

FIG. 1 also illustrates a casting or forming shield 46 concentricallydisposed about theaxis of mold 20 and forming an annulus between theouter surface 48 of molding collar 28 and the inner surface 50 ofcasting shield 46.

FIG. 2 illustrates that molding collar 28 is provided with a pair ofhydraulically or pneumatically power actuating means 51 comprisingcylinders and piston 52 and 53, respectively. The piston rods of piston53 are each attached to the rear face of mold 28 at points 54. Eachcylinder 52 is attached to guide ways 24 and 26 at points 56.

The alignment means 34, shown to best advantage in FIG. 3 of thedrawings, illustrates that cylinders 38 are mounted to frame 36 and arein engagement with the interior or inner surface 50 of casting shield46. Casting shield 46 is in close proximity to the interior walls in thesubterranean tunnel in which mold 20 is arranged.

When actuated either in unison or individually through a suitablecontrol means and sensing source, cylinders 38 will bring the overallmold 20 into precise alignment with axis 60 of a subterranean tunnel,thereby insuring concentricity of the molding collar 28 and the castingshield 46. This action creates a perfect annulus 62 into which a plasticmaterial such as concrete may be shot or poured.

FIG. 4 of the drawings illustrate the relative position of guide ways 24and 26 and the attachment points 54 of cylinders 52. Molding collar 28is supported on guide ways 24 and 26 and is maintained in a concentricrelationship to casting shield 46 and thereby creates annulus 62 forreceiving the plastic mold for casting or pouring in place a continuoushollow concrete monolithic structure. Molding collar 28 acts as theinterior wall of a mold while casting shield 46 acts as the exteriorwall of the mold.

FIG. 5 of the drawings illustrate in enlarged detail the protrusion 30of guide way 24 in its longitudinal slot thereby eliminating thepossibility of misalignment of molding collar 28 relative to axis 60 ofthe subterranean tunnel and consequently the axis of casting shield 46.This function of the mold insures a concentric annulus 62.

Referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings, the thrust collar 22 is shown ascomprising a pair of crescent shaped members 64 and 66. Each crescentshaped member is maintained in a variable spaced relationship to theother by hydraulically or pneumatically actuated cylinders 68 and 70. Itwill be seen from the drawings that when cylinders 68 and 70 areretracted the crescent shaped members 64 and 66 assume the broken lineposition A. When cylinder 68 and 70 are extended the crescent shapedmembers 64 and 66 are brought to bear against the interior wall 72 of apreviously cast portion of the continuous hollow monolithic structure74, thereby locking members 64 and 66 to the interior wall 72 of themonolithic structure 74. This action provides a thrust collar for thepropulsion means comprising cylinders 52 of form 20.

Referring to FIG. 8 of the drawings, it will be seen that the crescentshaped members 64 and 66 of thrust collar 22 are provided with inwardlyextending pins or bearing members 76 to which are mounted the rearextremities of guide ways 24 and 26. As seen best in FIG. 6 and 8, theguide ways 24 and 26 are held in a fixed spaced relationship by a strut78 permanently affixed to the inner surfaces of guide ways 24 and 26,thereby causing the bearing members 76 of the crescent shaped members 64and 66 of thrust collar 22 to move inwardly and outwardly with respectto axis 60 of mold 20 into and away from the interior wall 72 of apreviously cast hollow monolithic structure 74. This action occurswithout the thrust collar becoming disengaged from the longitudinalguide ways 24 and 26 at their rear most extremity. This feature alsoprovides for attachment of the guide ways 24 and 26 to the crescentshaped members 64 and 66 of thrust collar 22.

FIG. 7 illustrates one of the pair of cylinders 52 mounted at itsattachment point 56 on guide way 24 and piston rod 53 attached to point54 on the back surface of molding collar 28. Cylinder 53 is positionedso as not to interfere with the interior wall 72 or any other portion ofthe previously cast monolithic structure 74 during which time the mold20 and its associated alignment and propulsion means are beingtransversed along the interior of the hollow monolithic structure 74.

Referring to FIG. 9 and 10 of the drawings, it will be seen that thecasting shield 46 normally employed in subterranean tunnels is replacedby form which is concentrically disposed about molding collar 28 for usein open trenches. Casting shield 80 is of a substantially semicircularconfiguration but of a substantially equal length to casting shield 46,shown in FIG. 1. Thus, when mold 20 and its associated hardware are usedfor casting continuous hollow monolithic structures in an open trenchthe walls and bottom of the open trench 82, as seen in FIG. 9, act asthe lower half of a casting shield.

OPERATION With reference to FIG. 11 and 12 ofthe drawings, the operationof the continuous casting mold 20 is as follows: With molding collar 28fully retracted by cylinders 52 to position B shown in broken lines inFIG. 11 and with the thrust collar 22 extended outwardly into engagementwith interior wall 72 of the hollow monolithic structure 74, concrete orother substantial plastic material is poured, blown or sprayed intoannular opening 62 defined by the outer surface 48 of molding collar 28and the inner surface 50 of shield 46. Once the concrete or otherplastic material has taken a set the crescent shaped screed 44 isextended into engagement with the forward edge of the newly castconcrete. With the crescent shaped screed bar 44 in engagement with theconcrete, molding collar 28 is advanced along guide ways 24 and 26 byextending cylinders 52 and moving the molding collar 28 into the solidline position seen in FIG. 11 designated C. The herein before describedcasting procedure is now repeated. The crescent shaped screed is broughtto bear again against the leading edge of the freshly cast concrete 74and the molding collar 28 is again advanced to position D shown inbroken lines in FIG. 11. The casting procedure again ensues and once theconcrete or other plastic material has taken a set, the thrust collar 22as seen best in FIG. 12, is then retracted away from the interior wall72 of the continuous monolithic structure 74. The cylinders 38 of thealignment means 34 are then retracted away from the interior walls 72and the entire propulsion and alignment means is moved forward withinthe tunnel relative to form 28 along guide ways 24 and 26 by retractingcylinders 52.

When the entire mold 20 has been carried forward relative to moldingcollar 28 to a position similar to that shown in FIG. 11, mold 28 willbe in position B. Cylinders 38 of the aligning means are then againstextended into contact with the interior wall 80 of the tunnel therebyaligning the guide ways 24 and 26 and correspondingly molding collar 28and thrust collar 22. At this time cylinders 68 and 70 of the thrustcollar 22 are extended bringing the crescent shaped thrust shoes 64 and66 into engagement with the interior wall 72 of the monolithically caststructure 74, thereby readying the entire monolithic casting mold foranother series of operations as herein before described in FIG. 11.

Although but two embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for forming a continuous monolithic hollow object in apre-dug opening in the earth comprising:

an expandable thrust collar,

a pair of guide rails fixedly mounted on said collar at diametricallyopposed position points within the inner periphery of said collar andextending laterally therefrom in'a common direction within the pre-dugopening,

a molding collar mounted for slidable movement along said rails,

means mounted between said thrust collar and said molding collar formoving said thrust collar and said molding collar relative to eachother,

a shield coaxially arranged around and spaced from said molding collarin the pre-dug opening and extending axially outwardly therefrom,

an alignment means axially arranged within and in fixed contact with theinside periphery of said shield spaced from said shield and having ascreed plate extending outwardly therefrom toward said shield,

said screed plate being axially movable within said shield relative tosaid molding collar,

said molding collar being spaced from said shield the distance of thethickness of the object being formed, and

means for expanding said thrust collar into engagement with the insideperiphery of the object being formed to anchor said thrust collar inposition when pliable mud is forced into the space being said moldingcollar and the inside wall of said shield,

said screed plate being movable into contact with the set pliable mud atthe end of the object being formed to prevent tearing of concrete whileform is being advanced.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said means mounted between said thrust collar and said molding collarcomprises first and second fluid operated cylinders, each mountedadjacent a different one of said rails.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein:

a third fluid operated cylinder is mounted between said screed plate andsaid alignment means for axially moving said screed plate.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein:

said alignment means comprises a hexagonal ring axially mounted withsaid molding collar and a number of fluid actuated feet equally spacedaround the periphery of said ring for moving outwardly thereof to engagethe inside periphery of said shield to lock said ring into firmengagement with said shield.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein the shield is of acylindrical configuration.

1. An apparatus for forming a continuous monolithic hollow object in apre-dug opening in the earth comprising: an expandable thrust collar, apair of guide rails fixedly mounted on said collar at diametricallyopposed position points within the inner periphery of said collar andextending laterally therefrom in a common direction within the pre-dugopening, a molding collar mounted for slidable movement along saidrails, means mounted between said thrust collar and said molding collarfor moving said thrust collar and said molding collar relative to eachother, a shield coaxially arranged around and spaced from said moldingcollar in the pre-dug opening and extending axially outwardly therefrom,an alignment means axially arranged within and in fixed contact with theinside periphery of said shield spaced from said shield and having ascreed plate extending outwardly therefrom toward said shield, saidscreed plate being axially movable within said shield relative to saidmolding collar, said molding collar being spaced from said shield thedistance of the thickness of the object being formed, and means forexpanding said thrust collar into engagement with the inside peripheryof the object being formed to anchor said thrust collar in position whenpliable mud is forced into the space being said molding collar and theinside wall of said shield, said screed plate being movable into contactwith the set pliable mud at the end of the object being formed toprevent tearing of concrete while form is being advanced.
 2. Theapparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein: said means mounted between saidthrust collar and said molding collar comprises first and second fluidoperated cylinders, each mounted adjacent a different one of said rails.3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wHerein: a third fluid operatedcylinder is mounted between said screed plate and said alignment meansfor axially moving said screed plate.
 4. The apparatus set forth inclaim 3 wherein: said alignment means comprises a hexagonal ring axiallymounted with said molding collar and a number of fluid actuated feetequally spaced around the periphery of said ring for moving outwardlythereof to engage the inside periphery of said shield to lock said ringinto firm engagement with said shield.
 5. The apparatus set forth inclaim 1 wherein the shield is of a cylindrical configuration.